A passing glance, a lightning long the skies That ush'ring thunder dies straight to our sight, A spark, of contraries which doth arise, Then drowns in the huge depths of day and night, Is this small Small called life, held in such price Of blinded wights who nothing judge aright: Of Parthian shaft so swift is not the flight As life, that wastes itself and living dies. Oh, what is human greatness, valour, wit? What fading beauty, riches, honour, praise? To what doth serve in golden thrones to sit, Thrall earth's vast round, triumphal arches raise? All is a dream, learn in this prince's fall, In whom, save death, naught mortal was at all. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HUGH SELWYN MAUBERLEY: 1. E.P. ODE POUR L'ELECTION DE SON SEPULCHRE by EZRA POUND JUDITH by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH BEETHOVEN'S SEVENTH SYMPHONY by LYMAN WHITNEY ALLEN THE BATTLE OF THE FLOWERS by MATHILDE BLIND THUS FAR by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |